Josiah Sampson House, Cotuit

Concierge.com's insider take:

Built by a wealthy importer in 1793, this secluded Upper Cape mansion on the National Register of Historic Places is a hip combination of old (broad-board wooden floors that slope noticeably, a fireplace in each bedroom) and new (modern art on the walls, solar panels on the roof). Most of the six guest rooms have girlie lace canopies and antique furniture; radios, but no TVs; and relatively small bathrooms that the owners are gradually renovating. Book the Sampson Room for a view of the garden and a big bathroom that includes a full tub. Breakfast (blueberry waffles, smoked salmon omelets) is served on a deck overlooking the garden; a guest pantry is stocked with coffee and tea, and there is port and sherry in the living room, which also has a working player piano. Outside, there's a hot tub—unusual for a Cape B&B—and a gazebo hung with paper lanterns. Guests can also use the private tennis club next door for a fee ($8 for 90 minutes), or borrow a bike and ride to one of the several beaches nearby (the closest is a mile away). But the highlight here is the peace and quiet—and rates lower than most comparable inns.